Thought I'd better introduce myself as things seem to be a bit shaky .

[Running Elk]

I was bored so I spent about 5 minutes flipping through some of the posts you have made and already see why things are a "bit shakey". Everyone has already pointed it out to you so there is no need to dive into that anymore, but honestly this thread that you created seems like you are looking for people to go "aww he really is a nice guy" etc. Anyone can create a thread and apologize/justify their actions. A change in attitude will speak louder than you talking about yourself. Just my 2 cents.

Actually, if he's somewhat socially inept (due to his autism) as he stated in the first post (I am too, for similar/the same reasons) then I can vouch that when you get yourself into a social situations that become too hot for you to handle, and have anxiety over it, sometimes the only thing you can think to do is apologize. It sounds like he experienced anxiety over the reaction to his F/T thread. It's not easy to know how to 'do the right thing' in social situations when you view the world/function very differently from most people. I can't speak for him, but in my situation, there isn't a social que that naturally makes sense -- it was something I had to work very hard to learn and have to think about very hard to know how to react to. Most social norms/situations absolutely are baffling. When you upset people, you don't always know why or what it is you did, but you do feel bad and you don't want to upset people.

I apologize constantly to people. I often say or do 'abnormal' things in a social situation, or state a bold opinion with bluntness that's considered rude, and by the time it's over and people have forgotten/gotten over it...I haven't, and I blurt out an apology that makes it way more awkward. Sometimes I apologize for that apology.

I agree with your point, actions speak louder than words, but this post might be sincere albeit awkward, and not a ploy for attention or forgiveness. Saying sorry is also awkward, it'd probably be easier for him to just leave and go to a different forum. I feel like apologizing and showing interest in people not being angry with him is probably a fairly sincere gesture. He also wanted suggestions, and seemed interested in feedback as to why people felt the way they did. It takes cojones to open yourself up knowing you might get torn apart for it.

If I thought he was just a jerk I wouldn't have even bothered to reply to this thread (if he was just a jerk I'm not sure he would have bothered to post it). But when someone doesn't innately do very well in social situations explaining what they did that was upsetting is key for improvement. And he asked, because if he's anything like me, sometimes you have to ask to know. Much of what I've learned came from awkward asking.